Counter-bin.



B. E. DARBY.

COUNTER BIN:

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 7. 1915.

Patented May 29, 1917.

l4 la auaniatox PETERS Ca.PHGIU-LlYnO-.WASHINGIUN. n c.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

BENJAMIN E. DARBY, OF DUKE, OKLAHOMA.

COUNTER-BIN.

Application filed October 7, 1915.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN E. DARBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Duke, in the county of Jackson and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful improven'ien'ts in Counter-Bins, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates toan improved bin or container and more particularly to a counter bin especially designed for use by grocers for containing commodities in bulk.

The invention has for one of its important objects to provide a bin of the above character which is so constructed that the contents thereof will be properly protected and at all times kept in a thoroughly sanitary condition, and means whereby the material may be removed from a receiving cornpartment at the base of the bin.

It isanother object of my invention to provide means for facilitating the feeding of the material into the bin.

The invention has'for a further object to provide a bin beneath the counter top which is of such construction that it is of the maximum capacity, and wherein all parts of the bin structure will be disposed beneath the counter top and not project beyond said top or the base of the counter.

It is a further general object of the invention to provide an improved grocers bin which is simple and inexpensive in its construction as well as highly serviceable and convenient in practical use.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a counter bin constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 designates the top of a counter and 6 the front wall thereof. 7 indicates the rear longitudinally extending baseboard. Between the baseboard 7 and the front Wall 6 of the counter, the vertical, transversely disposed partition walls 8 are arranged which divide Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 2Q, 1917.

Serial No. 54,644.

the space beneath the counter and throughout the length thereof into a plurality of compartments. Between the spaced partition walls 8 and extending downwardly and inwardlyfrom the rear edge of the top 5, the obliquely inclined. wall 9 is secured.

A curved sheet metal wall 10 is fixed at one of its ends to the under side of the counter top 5, adjacent the front wall 6, and extends downwardly and rearwardly; and at a point in spaced relation to the rear baseboard 7, the wall 10 is bent into substantially semi-circular form, as shown at 11, to provide a longitudinally extending trough or receiving chamber between the spaced vertical walls 8. The edge of the trough section 11 of the wall 10 is suitably fixed to the baseboard 7 It is to be observedthat the lower end of the obliquely inclined wall 9 terminates in spaced relation to the plate 10 immediately above the juncture of the wall with the trough 11. A door 12 is hingedly mounted along one of its longitudinal edges, as at 18, upon the outer face of the wall 9 adjacent to the lower edge thereof and this door normally rests at its other free edge upon the baseboard 7. The door, when closed, is disposed in an inclined position, though it will be observed that the free edge of this door does not project beyond the base wall 7 The door 12 is preferably provided with a glass panel 14 so that the contents of the receiving trough 11 are visible from a point behind the counter. In the lower end portion of the inclined wall 9, an adjustable feed regulating plate 15 is slidably mounted,

said plate being provided with. a suitable finger piece 16 projecting through a slot 17 in the wall 9, whereby said plate may be conveniently manipulated. The lower end of the plate 15 is adapted to be projected beyond the lower end of the wall 9 so as to diminish or increase the volume of material directed by the curved wall 10 into the trough 11.

In the upper portion of the wall 9, an outwardly and downwardly swinging hinged door 18 is mounted, said door when closed being disposed in the plane of the wall 9 and entirely beneath the counter top. When the door is swung outwardly to the inclined position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the same serves as a support for a scoop or funnel to direct the material into the bin compartment or chamber.

A display container 19 is removably mounted in an opening 20 provided in the front wall 6 of the counter, the several containers being filled with the particular commodity contained in the respective bin compartments. As these containers are constructed of glass, their contents are visible from the front of the counter.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it is believed that the construction, manner of operation and several advantages of my invention will be clearly and fully understood. WVhen the doors 12 and 18 are closed, dust and moisture are excluded from the interior of the bin compartments so that the contents thereof will not be injuriously aifected; but the same will be, at all times, kept in a thoroughly sanitary condition. When it is desired to remove a portion of the contents from any one of the bins, the door 12 is raised to the position shown in dotted lines, and with a scoop or other suitable implement, the material is removed from the trough or receiving chamber 11 at the base of the bin compartment. The flow of material from said compartment into the receiving trough may be increased or decreased, as desired, by the adjustment of the plate 15, or entirely cut off. The proprietor or clerk may move freely behind the counter without striking against any protruding portion of the bin structure owing to the fact that all parts thereof are entirely disposed between the opposite edges of the counter top. As the construction of my improved bin is quite simple, it will be apparent that the same can be produced at relatively small cost. It is, of course, obvious that the bin can be made of any desired capacity. I also reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate modifications in the form, proportion and arrangement of the several parts as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is I 1. The combination with a counter having atop, front wall, rear baseboard and spaced vertical partition walls, of a clownwardly and rearwardly inclined directing wall arranged between the partition walls and fixed to said top, said directing Wall having a receiving trough formed in its rear edge, the inner edge of said trough being in the same horizontal plane as the upper edge of the baseboard, a wall inclined clownwardly and inwardly from the rear edge of the counter top, the lower edge of said wall being spaced above the inner edge of the trough, and a door hingedly mounted upon said wall and normally resting at its free edge upon the baseboard of the counter to close said trough.

2. The combination with a counter having a top, front wall, rear baseboard and spaced vertical partition walls, of a downwardly and rearwarclly inclined directing wall ar ranged between the partition walls and fixed to said top, said directing wall having a receiving trough formed in its rear edge, a wall .inclined downwardly and inwardly from the rear edge of the counter top, substantially in line with the inner edge of the trough and terminating in spaced relation thereto, a door hingedly mounted upon said wall above the lower edge thereof and normally resting at its free edge upon the baseboard of the counter to close said trough, and a feed regulating plate longitudinally adjustable in the lower end of said inclined wall and adapted to be projected beyond the same toward said curved. directing wall to vary the volume of material-flowing from the bin compartment into said trough.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN E. DARBY. Witnesses JNo. G. PETERSON, EDNA KINDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

